Critical Analysis Case

Case study analysis is a technique designed to help students diagnose problems encountered in organizational life, in teams and in interpersonal relationships and develop appropriate, reliable and valid solutions based on theory. Cases give students a feeling of the hard realities of business decision-making and allow students to experience the challenges and dilemmas of the decision-maker. Cases are often based on real situations and as such represent the 'truths' or the 'incidents' as they actually took place. They are an opportunity to link theory and practice.Students will study the information provided in each case, attempt to diagnose the true nature of the problem(s) involved, what caused the problems and to search for alternative ways in which the problems can be resolved, then recommend and justify the most plausible courses of action.

Sometimes students look desperately for the 'correct answer' or the 'one best solution'. In case studies, the emphasis is not on the finding the 'right' or 'wrong' answer. Instead, the priority is the students' ability to take into account all the variables that might have a bearing on the situation and then find a solution that is feasible. Most problems confronted by managers are multi-faceted, very complex, involving many different variables. Students will want to comprehend all aspects of the problems and the causes of the problems.

Objectives of a case study, as an educational tool, are:

1. to improve students' ability to think logically and imaginatively

2. to develop analytical ability and problem solving capability

3. to critically evaluate and utilize learned theories

4. to bring about an awareness of the constraints in decision making

5. to integrate theory so valid and reliable solutions are advanced

Preparation Steps of Case Analysis

1. Read the case a number of times in an undirected manner. 'Undirected' means do not think about the questions asked or the method of analysis. The goal is to become familiar with the situation that is described without coming to any firm conclusions. If the assigned questions are considered prematurely, the student may become solutions-oriented. These solutions are likely to be both superficial and hard to change as the study of the case proceeds.

2. Make notes regarding salient issues. These issues will not necessarily conform to those upon which the assigned questions are based although there will most likely be a strong relationship with will eventually become clear. List the facts to get a sense of the whole case.

3. Read